Boston Bruins – New York Islanders Series Prediction:
Scott Roche
This should be a very good series. Expect a tight-checking, low-scoring series between two teams that play similar styles.
The Islanders won five of the eight games this season, but the Bruins won the last three following the trade deadline. Both teams took advantage of shaking goaltending in their first-round series wins, but this series should be different for both.
Continuing to get production from the top two lines is a must in the series for Boston, while special teams could be a big factor. The Bruins will need power play goals, as well as their penalty-killing to be as good as it was during the regular season.
As the higher seed, the Bruins get home-ice advantage, which is something that is going to be very big in the series. The Islanders won all four games at home, so taking care of business in the first two games at the TD Garden is almost a must for Boston. The Isles have been a very good team at home this season and this is also the final season in the Nassau Coliseum.
Prediction: Bruins in 7